Coal chute and apron



2 SHEETS SHEET l H. A, ERNST. COAL CHUTE AND APRoN l F1 LED MAY 17,

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Feb. 6i, 119211 www H A. ERNST. COAL CHUTE AND APRONl FILED MAY I7,1922A 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 PMM QL- m Patented Febo t?, IQJ,

HENRI A. ERNST, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 'IO ROBERTS ANDSCI-IAEFER COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

COAL CHUTE AND APRON.

Application led May 17,

Y 1o @ZZ wilma. t may concern.'

Re it known that I, HENRI A. ERNST, a citizen of Canada, residing atChicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented acertain new and useful Improvement in Coal Chutes and Aprons, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in radially movable chutes or swayaprons and means for operating them, for use in connection with storageand supply bins, elevators and the like. It has for its object toprovide improvements in the mechanism for controlling the discharge ofthe contents of such bin, and particularly relates to improved means forcontrolling the radial apron, chute or feeding means which deliversmaterial discharged from such bin. A particular object is lto provide asway apron or chute which may be swiveled and which may be used incombination with an undercut gate. Other objects will appear from timeto time in the course of the specification.

I illustrate my invention more or less diagrammatically in theaccompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a vertical section;

Figure 2 is a front elevation;

Figure 3 is a partial plan view of the lower part of Fig. l; and

Figure 4 is a perspective View with parts omitted.

rThroughout the specifica-tion and drawings the same parts are indicatedby the same characters.

A is the wall of any suitable bin or storage member, the lower andpreferably inclined wall or floor B of which is adapted to directmaterial therein contained to the delivery spout C, which preferablyprojects a substantial distance through and beyond the wall A. Pivoted,as at I), to the sides of the spout are the side elements D1 of theundercut gate, the forward portion D2 of which is adapted to close thespout C. The side walls of the spout terminate in arcuate edges to makea snug fit with the arcuate member D2.

Secured to the members D1 are the bars F, F1, of which F1 is verticalthroughout substantially its entire length, the bar F having an upperhorizontal section F2 which crosses over and connects to the upperportion of F1, the whole structure being braced as 1922. serial No.561,702.

by the brace element F3. Pivoted to the outwardly inclined top sectionFt of F1 is the operating rod Gr, which is preferably joined to it byany suitable universal connection G1. The rod G is provided with ahandle G2 and a chain G3, which is secured to the outer end of theradially pivoted chute later to be described.

Secured to F1 isa cord H, which is carried around the sheave Ill andpulley H2 mounted on the frame of the bin and has a depending portion H3to which are secured the weights H4, which normally tend to hold theundercut gate in closed position.

I, I1 are brackets secured to and outwardly projecting from the frameofthe bin, one above and the other below the spout C, and lying in avertical plane about midway between the sides of the spout. Pivoted inany suitable way to these brackets is a frame comprising side elementsI2, the bottom elcment I3, the ciossbars I4, the inclined top elementsI5 and the horizontal top elements IG, I7 which connect them, and whichare pivotally securedlto the bracket I. Pivoted in any suitable mannerto the side elements I2, as at Ii, K, is any suitable sway apron orchute K1, the inner edge K2 of which lies substantially beneath andwithin the end of the chute C. Secured to the outer end of the apron isthe yoke L, to which is fastened the cord M, which is brought about thesheave M1 on the bin frame and is secured, as at M2, to the bin. Theweights M3 tend to lift the rope M from the yoke L into operativeposition, or the weights will be balanced merely to permit easymanipulation.

It will be realized that while I have illustrated and described anoperative device, still many changes might be made in the number, size,shape and relation of parts without departing from the spirit of myinvention. wishJ therefore, that my drawings be considered as in a sensediagrammatic.

yIhe use and operation of my invention are as follows:

I have illustrated a form of chute and sway apron with which an undercutgate may be used. For this purpose I employ a bin having an outwardlyprojecting feed or discharge spout, the end of which is closed by aradial gate which` when open, is rotated to a position beneath the endof i im the spout. To insure a snug fit, the side walls of the spoutterminate in arcuate edges co-axial with the gate. rlhe gate is providedwith a rod, to which is secured a rope which is carried about sheaves orpulleys and provided with weights which tend to close theY gate. Theweights nia-y be so balanced that the gate holds any position in whichit is manually placed, thus insuring easy manipulation, The dischargespout and gate project through a frame, waich is pivoted above and belowit to the supporting; storage or bin iranicworlz.I This traine rotatesabout a vertical axis and to its side members is piroted a sway apron]o-r chute, the pivotal connection oi" which with the frame makesvirtually a universal joint. The chute is entirely out of connection orcontact with the discharge spout and there is sui'licient room betweenchute and spout for the radial gate to be withdrawn, thusl permittingthe use or an undercut gate7 which is hi'hly adyantageousmior example.in coal work, since an overrut gate is easily jammed and7 if struck;with a flat piece oil? slate, as frequently happens in practice, maypermit the spilling of fifty or one hundred tons on a locomotive. Likethe gate. the chute is` supported by a weighted cable, which eithertends to lift it or so balances it as to maire manual manipulation easy.The adjustment of the chute is entirely independent of the position ofthe gate and may freely be raised or lowered or rotated about a verticalaxis. The result is an extremely iexible and eiiicient type of feedchute, which is coupled with a high degree of control of the stream oimaterial delivered to it by the spout.

l claim:

l. 'The combination with a. storage bin havin(Jv a. downwardly andoutwardly inclined spout or' an under-cut gate pivoted upon the end ofsaid spout and adapted, when open, to swing downwardly therebeneath, achutesupporting element pivoted adjacent said spout on a vertical axis,and a chute pivoted thereupon on a horizontal axis, the distance betweenthe chute and the bottoni oi" the spout being suiiicient to provideclearance for the undercut gate as it swings into open position.

2. The combination. with storage bin having a downwardly and outwardlyinclined spout of an under-cut gate pivoted upon the end of the spoutand adapted, when open, to swing downwardly therebeneathD a shutesupporting frame surrounding said spout pivoted on avertical axis at topand bottoma a chute pivoted upon said irame at the sides thereof,therdistance betweenthe chute and the bottom of the spout beingsuihcient to provide clearance for the under-cut gate as it swings intoopen position, the distance between the sides of the frame and the sidesof the spout being suicient to permit rotation of frame and chute abouta vertical axis.

Signed at Chicago, county of Cook and State of illinois, this fourth dayof May7 1922.

HENRI A. ERNST.

